The Sweetest Secret Episode 16 Recap
> The Sweetest Secret Recap
After Tang Father caught Tang Weiwei and Lin Ran kissing, his initial touch of emotion quickly turned to anger. He rushed out to separate them, pushing Lin Ran, who was still barefoot, out the door. Lin Ran protested that his shoes were still inside, but Tang Father swiftly threw them out and locked the door tightly.
Leaning against the wall outside, Lin Ran knew Tang Father was just reluctant to let Tang Weiwei go and felt a rush of sweetness as he looked at the necklace she had given him. Meanwhile, Gu Zhen excitedly reported to Jin Zichuan, proclaiming his return as a "king" after securing an acquisition contract. He expressed his determination to study diligently and take over the family business, feeling a sense of power that Lin Ran had allowed him to experience.
However, Jin Zichuan immediately questioned him about the contract, and Gu Zhen admitted, "I signed my name, and so Lin Ran took it back to sign," revealing his premature celebration. Unfazed, Jin Zichuan then instructed his personnel manager, Xiao Tang, to transfer Xiao Li, the life assistant responsible for sending flowers to Li Xiang's company, to the marketing department. The manager was initially surprised but quickly confirmed there were no issues.
Curious, Gu Zhen then asked Jin Zichuan which "Miss Li" they were referring to, wondering if he was about to get a sister-in-law. Back home, Tang Weiwei's cousin, Sun Ke, discovered Lin Ran's diary among her belongings. He commented that since Tang Weiwei was a few years older than Lin Ran and had more life experience, it would be "a piece of cake" for her to handle him, which he saw as an advantageous situation.
During dinner, Sun Ke suggested to Tang Weiwei that he and Tang Father could "take a step back" by giving their temporary permission for her relationship with Lin Ran. However, he maintained that opening a dessert shop was still unsuitable given her current situation. Tang Weiwei, seizing the opportunity, countered by proposing they "take another step back" and agree to her opening the dessert shop.
Upon hearing this, Tang Father became furious, accused her of asking "too much," and stormed off without finishing his meal. Later, Gu Zhen spotted Lin Ran and tried to confront him about the contract. Lin Ran, however, told him to stop following him, explaining that his unreturned messages were a "wordless refusal" and he had decided not to sell the racetrack.
Realizing he had been tricked, Gu Zhen immediately called Jin Zichuan to complain, while Jin Zichuan, annoyed by Gu Zhen's incompetence, asked, "He could not even sign the contract. What else can you do?" Li Xiang brought Ning Meng's contract to Jin Zichuan, who found no issues with it. He then handed her Tang Weiwei's dessert shop investment plan.
When Li Xiang offered a verbal "thanks," Jin Zichuan, with a hint of dissatisfaction, asked if that was her only way of showing gratitude. Li Xiang then proposed having dinner with him that evening. Jin Zichuan internally noted her "flirtatious" and "desperate means," deducting points for each, but still accepted her invitation. Tang Weiwei's cousin, Sun Ke, had expressed concern to Tang Father about Tang Weiwei having no money or card.
Despite Tang Father dismissing his worries, Sun Ke insisted on following Tang Weiwei, seeing himself as her protector and an "ATM." As Tang Weiwei went about her day, buying lingerie and heading to the restroom, Sun Ke remained glued to her side. While Tang Weiwei was in the restroom, Li Xiang called, inviting her to dinner with Jin Zichuan, the investor.
Tang Weiwei hesitantly asked if she could bring "someone along," referring to her persistent cousin, and Li Xiang readily agreed. Meanwhile, the teacher approached Lin Ran to host the school celebration party, praising his recent art exhibition success, which had even garnered international recognition. Lin Ran initially refused to host or perform with Ji Han, stating firmly, "Director, I have a girlfriend," and that such a performance was "unsuitable."
The teacher, emphasizing Lin Ran's status as a top student, insisted he "show his face." Lin Ran continued to refuse, claiming he had no time. When the teacher then offered him the opportunity to host the city's largest adult event, which famously ordered an eight-layer cake every year, Lin Ran's interest piqued. He asked if the event's dessert order could be outsourced to his family's newly opened dessert shop.
The teacher, recognizing Lin Ran's shrewdness, agreed, but only if Lin Ran hosted the event well and ensured the quality of his graduation exhibition. Lin Ran readily accepted the terms, making it a firm "deal." Tang Weiwei arrived at the dinner with her cousin, much to Li Xiang's surprise. Tang Weiwei explained her cousin wouldn't leave her alone and prevented her from signing the shop contract, asking Li Xiang to help her get rid of him.
Li Xiang then subtly spilled a drink on Sun Ke, who quickly excused himself to clean up. As soon as he left, Tang Weiwei slipped away to finalize her shop contract. When Sun Ke returned, he was furious to find Tang Weiwei gone and learned from Li Xiang that Tang Weiwei had secured investment from Jin Zichuan. Sun Ke confronted Jin Zichuan, accusing him of influencing his sister.
Jin Zichuan calmly explained that opening a dessert shop was a legitimate business activity. Sun Ke then vowed to pester Jin Zichuan daily until his sister was "returned," even reminding Jin Zichuan that he was his "ex-boyfriend for a day." Jin Zichuan retorted by denying ever dating Tang Weiwei and dismissing Sun Ke's attempts to "take advantage."
After this dramatic exchange, Sun Ke rushed back to Tang Father, reporting that their "plan was ruined" because Tang Weiwei had secured her own funds. While Lin Ran was practicing for the evening's school celebration program, Tang Weiwei's distress text message arrived. Tang Father, to prevent her from opening the shop, had locked her inside the house.
Upon receiving the message, Lin Ran immediately rushed back, brought a ladder, and helped Tang Weiwei climb down from the window, using a familiar trick. Tang Weiwei and Lin Ran then hurried to the shop to begin renovations. After following Li Xiang for a day, Jin Zichuan proposed a relationship. Li Xiang rejected him, believing that he was moved by her "numerical value" rather than her as a person, and immediately made plans to meet someone else that evening.
Back at the newly renovated shop, Lin Ran asked Tang Weiwei how she felt about the progress. She described a feeling of "longing," explaining how she once fantasized about a perfect life after high school but later lost confidence. She shared her idea for a new promo centered on "confidence and anticipation." Lin Ran then revealed that someone had loved her since they were fifteen and that she had always been that person's "subject of longing."
He then "suddenly remembered" that his paintings were being showcased at a nearby art exhibition and invited her to see them. Though Tang Weiwei internally noted his "fake acting" and expressed a desire to return to making desserts, she agreed to go, saying, "Since it is my boyfriend's painting, I shall go and take a look. Deal. Make sure you keep your promise." At the art exhibition, they encountered Ji Han, who explained she was helping out after rehearsal ended.
Lin Ran asked her to be their tour guide. Ji Han enthusiastically introduced Lin Ran's vibrant and deeply expressive artworks, recounting how one piece had won an award in Europe, and praised his "talent." Lin Ran feigned modesty, claiming he merely imitated masters. After enduring Ji Han's effusive praise and Lin Ran's faux humility, Tang Weiwei excused herself to the restroom, leaving Lin Ran and Ji Han alone.
A male student then approached Lin Ran, making vulgar remarks about his "popularity with the ladies," insinuating that Tang Weiwei and Ji Han were merely "sources of inspiration" and questioning his recent neglect of Ji Han, "the campus beauty." Offended by his comments, Ji Han slapped him, immediately escalating into a physical altercation, which others tried to break up.
Following the incident, Jin Zichuan informed Lin Ran that Ji Han had received disciplinary action and lost her exchange student opportunity due to the fight. Lin Ran accepted responsibility, stating that the disciplinary action should be his. He then offered to pay any price to secure an exchange student spot for Ji Han. Jin Zichuan refused money, instead demanding "information about a certain woman." When Lin Ran, misunderstanding, insisted that Tang Weiwei was his girlfriend, Jin Zichuan clarified, "You overthink. What I want is Li Xiang's information."
